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Quote by Stephanie Coontz

“Extended families have never been the norm in America; the highest figure for extended-family households ever recorded in Americanhistory is 20 percent. Contrary to the popular myth that industrialization destroyed "traditional" extended families, this high point occurred between 1850 and 1885, during the most intensive period of early industrialization. Many of these extended families, and most "producing" families of the time, depended on the labor of children; they were held together by dire necessity and sometimes by brute force.”

Quote by Stephanie Coontz

Book:The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap
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The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap

This book delves into the historical changes in American family structures and the cultural phenomenon of romanticizing the past, offering insights into how nostalgia shapes modern views of family life. more

Author

Stephanie Coontz
Stephanie Coontz

Stephanie Coontz is an American historian and author specializing in the history of gender, marriage, and the family. Her work explores the evolution of gender roles in modern society and how these changes affect individuals and society. more

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